Onboard voltmeters

[R50]

I installed one of the voltwatch led type voltmeter at the begining of the season, and is it ever a lifesaver or helisaver if you will. I also got a larger (1400) nicad reciever pack at the same time. So anyways I go out flying like usual today, and I know I'm good for atleast 3 flights before my batt's are running low, not dangerous. On my second flight I see the Voltwatch is in the Red so I land it, and charge it. It took only 200 mah to charge it up, and after one flight it was in the red again. Apparently I have a dead or dying cell. The whole point of the story here is that if I didn't have this great little gizmo my heli may have been mortally wounded or me. So to all you newbies to nitro make sure you use some sort of volt meter to check your reciever, and check it often.

[schluterdude]

i use one of the regular hobbico esv's and check every flight. i wish it put a greater load on the battery (only about 25 mAh i believe), as my old fashioned servos and brass wheel gyro put a greater load on it than that... so i turn the whole system on and move things around, then check it out.

does that volt watch put a load on the batt or just wired in line? i might wanna grab on of 'em...

[cbflys]

The 'on-board' voltage meters do not place a load on the battery. The system is the load. That is why they work so well. They give you an indication that the battery voltage is starting to drop and give you enough time to get down.

As far as updating your ESV to put a different load on the battery being tested, that is very easy to do. If you're interested, send me a PM and I'll tell you how it's done.

[blax1]

I run this on my T-Rex 450 SE, and its awesome :)

http://www.techmodelproducts.com/radio_elect.php

I run this on my Kyosho Caliber 5 and its awesome. :D

http://www.grandrc.com/inc/sdetail/102752

[kcgraves]

I run this on my T-Rex 450 SE, and its awesome :)

http://www.techmodelproducts.com/radio_elect.php



I run one my TREX and on both my .50s since I switched them to regulators/lipos. I also put one on my parkzone trojan airplane. Works great.

[Pinecone]

For lipo flight packs I am using the Western Robotics Spectrum montior. Standard model does 2S - 7 S, and the HV modle does up to 13S. They also make a version for 4/5 cell NiCd/NiMH packs.

Small and light. The LED changes color as the pack voltage drops. VERY bright and easy to see even in daylight. And you can program it with a power supply to provide an earlier warning if desired.

ReadyHeli carries them.

For electric helis, I run lipo monitors from Efliernz on HeliFreak. He hand makes each one, and will do custom work if you need something different. I have them on my Trex 450, Quick of Japan EP8, and Hurricane 550.

[blax1]

Hi Terry welcome to the forum.. :)

I just purchased a Spektrum data logger for my new project, apart from logging RF fades and holds etc it also monitors Rx pack voltage, I'm looking forward to getting this set up soon, it should be a tremendous asset.

http://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SPM9540

[Pinecone]

The big thing with the voltage info is how often does it log. Will it catch small duration drop outs.

I have been talking with Bill Parry of EagleTree about a system that will log low voltage events no matter when they occur (in relation to normal sampling) or how short of duration.

[blax1]

Yep she does all that, just read from screen after each flight.

[Dan]

Hi Terry welcome to the forum.. :)

I just purchased a Spektrum data logger for my new project, apart from logging RF fades and holds etc it also monitors Rx pack voltage, I'm looking forward to getting this set up soon, it should be a tremendous asset.

http://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SPM9540

I have the Spektrum data logger installed on my T-rex 500 and love it. The unit you have on your Kyosho Caliber 5 is installed on both my T-rex 600N and the Schluter Superior. I love checking the battery every time the T-rex flys by. I also like not needing to hook up and remove glow plug power every time I start the engine.

When people at the field see the 2 in 1 regulator they can't believe how great it is. It's not like they are a secret, are they?

[blax1]

When people at the field see the 2 in 1 regulator they can't believe how great it is. It's not like they are a secret, are they?

LOL- far from it................ :)

I might use one on my Avant.....................BUT off topic here, but anyway

I'll be running 8V on DS8717s with a AR7100R so I'm not sure of the wiring set-up yet and I cant find anyone using one in this way either, maybe I wont be able to, which would be a shame, gotta luv the glow reg-................. :cool:

[Dan]

On my T-rex 600N Super Pro I'm running the Align 2 in 1 regulator which is 6 volts to the receiver and the Align Governor. I'm also running a Futaba 401 gyro and 3 Futaba S9452 servos on the swash. I'm using a 7100 Spektrum receiver. All of that stuff runs great on 6 volts. Now I needed to deal with the Futaba S9254 tail servo which needs 4.8 volts and then because of the governor needs to have a faster servo on the throttle than what's on the swash an additional S9254 on the throttle. To solve that problem I purchased two 2-way step-down voltage regulators from Align, part number K10381TA.

I not an expert here and I'm just telling you what I did. The regulator includes the lights for the on board voltmeter (which is why I'm still posting stuff on this tread). But I must say I had a great locked in system, that is until I seized the engine last week.